Poll: Southern states for gun checks

Even solidly red states show bipartisan support for expanded gun purchase background checks, a new poll finds.

A trio of southern states, known for their conservative roots, showed majority support for the checks, according to a survey from Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling out Wednesday. Seventy-one percent of Georgia voters, 67 percent of Tennessee voters and 60 percent of Arkansas voters supported expanded background checks. Women are more in favor of the checks across all three states, with 81 percent, 73 percent and 67 percent supporting in Georgia, Tennessee and Arkansas, respectively.

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“Our polling on background checks since last month’s Senate vote has been incredibly consistent,” said PPP President Dean Debnam in a release accompanying the survey. “Whether it’s in blue states, purple states, or red ones, support for a stronger law remains overwhelming and bipartisan.”

The polls were conducted May 22-23. PPP surveyed 522 Arkansas voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percent, 576 Georgia voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percent, and 500 Tennessee voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percent.